Panic erupted at St. Francis School, Akure, on Tuesday morning after suspected bandits invaded the premises, forcing students and staff to flee for safety. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as pupils were seen running for their lives while gunshots were reportedly heard within the school compound.
According to students who spoke after the incident, the attack began shortly after morning assembly. Armed men allegedly gained access through the rear perimeter fence and moved toward classroom blocks. Teachers immediately raised an alarm, instructing pupils to evacuate. Videos circulating online show dozens of students in uniform scaling fences and sprinting across open fields to escape the unfolding violence.
“We were in class when we heard shouting and gunshots. Our teacher told us to run and not look back,” one SS2 student recounted. “Everyone was scared. Some students fell while running. We just wanted to get out.”
Parents rushed to the school following distress calls from their children. The main gate was quickly locked down by security guards, but many students had already fled through alternative exits into nearby streets. Several parents confirmed they found their wards hiding in shops and residential compounds around the school.
The Ondo State Police Command confirmed the incident and said officers were deployed to the area immediately after receiving a distress call. Police Public Relations Officer, SP Funmilayo Odunlami, stated that operatives engaged the attackers and secured the premises. “The situation is under control. No student was abducted. We are investigating and have launched a manhunt for the suspects,” she said.
While no fatalities were reported, at least three students sustained minor injuries while fleeing. They were treated at a nearby clinic and discharged. School authorities have announced a temporary closure of St. Francis School to allow security agencies to sweep the area and for students to recover from the trauma.
The attack marks another disturbing case of bandits targeting educational institutions in Nigeria. Residents of Akure expressed outrage, noting that schools should be safe zones for learning. Community leaders have called on the state government to increase security presence around schools and improve perimeter fencing.
“We cannot continue like this. Our children go to school to learn, not to run from bullets,” said Mr. Adebayo Ojo, chairman of the school’s Parents-Teachers Association. “Government must act now before we lose lives…Read_More
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